Arterial injuries in extremities trauma, angiographic findings

Risk of peripheral artery occlusive disease in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments: A population cohort study

Background

The risk of peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) in patients with lower leg fracture who underwent fixation procedures is not yet completely understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the risk of subsequent PAOD in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments.

Methods

We included 6538 patients with lower leg fracture who received non-fixation treatment and a matched cohort comprising 26152 patients who received fixation treatment from the National Health Insurance Database. Patients were frequency matched according to age, sex, and index year. The incidence and risk of PAOD in patients with lower leg fracture who received fixation and non-fixation treatments were evaluated via the stratification of different characteristics and comorbidities.

Results

Non-fixation treatment, male sex, older age (≥ 50 years old), diabetes mellitus, and gout were associated with a significantly higher risk of lower extremity PAOD compare to each comparison group, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between fixation treatment and a lower risk of lower extremity PAOD in women (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38–0.90), women aged > 50 years (aHR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.38–0.96), and patients with coronary artery disease (aHR = 0.43, 95% CI = (0.23–0.81). Further, patients with fixation treatment had a significantly lower risk of lower extremity PAOD within 2 years after trauma (aHR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34–0.97). The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of PAOD was significantly higher in the non-fixation treatment group than in the fixation treatment group at the end of the 10-year follow-up period (log-rank test: P = 0.022).

Conclusion

Patients with lower leg fracture who received non-fixation treatment had a significantly higher risk of PAOD than those who received fixation treatment. Moreover, the risk of PAOD was higher in women aged > 50 years, as well as in coronary artery disease patients who received non-fixation treatment than in those who received fixation treatment. Therefore, regular assessment of vessel patency are recommended for these patients. Nevertheless, further studies must be conducted to validate the results of our study.

The Correlation between Lower Extremity Fracture and Subsequent Arterial Embolism and Thrombosis-A National Population Cohort Study

The hazard of subsequent arterial embolism and thrombosis (SAET) in patients with lower leg fractures is not yet well demonstrated. The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation between lower leg fracture and SAET in Taiwan. A total of 134,844 patients with lower leg fractures (ICD-9-CM: 823) and chronological diagnosis as SAET (ICD-9-CM: 444.22) was matched (1:1) to the non-fracture cohort according to their propensity score (data coming from the National Health Insurance database between January 2000 to December 2012). Patients were matched by age, gender, and comorbidities. The incidence of SAET and correlation between SAET development and lower leg fracture was statistically analyzed, and subgroup analysis categorized by characteristics and comorbidities was conducted as well. The cumulative incidence of SAET was calculated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Kaplan–Meier analysis plot showed that, by the end of the ten-year follow-up period, the cumulative incidence of SAET was significantly higher for the lower leg fracture cohort than for the non-fracture cohort (log-rank test: p < 0.001). The lower leg fracture, male, elder age (45–64-year-old; ≥65-year-old), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout were significantly associated with lower extremity SAET risk compared with the matched group. There was an inseparable correlation between the lower leg fracture group and the risks of SAET; subgroup analysis by gender (male, female), age (age < 40 years, age 40–64 years, and age > 65 years) and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout) show compatible results as well. Patients with lower leg fracture have a significantly increased risk of SAET since then two years after the fracture. The hazard of SAET was significantly higher in patients with lower leg fracture than in the non-fracture cohort, and the high incidence was found since then two years after fracture. Further studies are warranted.

The protective effects of HGF against apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells caused by peripheral vascular injury

Closed vascular injuries have danger of developing critical tissue ischemia with a high risk of amputation and limb loss. However, limited effective strategies exist at present. In this study, we investigate the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). First, apoptosis of VECs was induced by hypoxia treatment with or without HGF. Annexin V-7AAD apoptosis assay revealed that HGF overexpression significantly reduced VEC apoptosis. Then a closed peripheral vascular injury animal model was created by balloon catheter in female New Zealand rabbit. The VECs overexpressing HGF were injected into balloon injury rabbit. TUNEL and caspase 3 staining assays revealed that balloon catheter-treated artery showed severe intimal hyperplasia, with a 70% apoptosis rate (P < 0.05, vs. sham group), while HGF-overexpressing group showed a significant reduction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the expressions of Fas/FasL and their downstream apoptosis-related proteins were significantly decreased in HGF-overexpressing group when compared with those in balloon injury group as detected by western blot analysis. All these data indicated that HGF exhibited anti-apoptotic effects during VEC apoptosis, which might be mediated by the inhibition of Fas/FasL pathway. Our study provides a theoretic basis for the application of HGF in the gene therapy of closed peripheral vascular injury.

Maternal-neonatal outcome in pregnancies with non-obstetric laparotomy during pregnancy

In this study maternal and neonatal outcome evaluated in each trimester of pregnancies with non obstetric laparotomies. In this descriptive-analytic study, 100 pregnant women operated during pregnancy were evaluated. Based on available data a questionnaire comprising general information, kind of surgery as well as the maternal-neonatal outcome was fulfilled. These outcomes were compared in the different gestational ages. In this study, 28 (28%), 48 (48%) and 24 (24%) patients had been operated in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The patients of these three groups were matched for general characters. Sixty one patients had appendectomy, 30 adnexal mass or torsion, 6% cholecystectomy, 3% abdominal mass. Maternal complications were recorded in 6, 3 and 9% patient in 3rd, 2nd and 1st trimester of pregnancy, respectively. Abortion in first trimester was 8.2%. Low apgar in fifth minute and asphyxia were higher in third trimester. Appendectomy was the most common surgery in the pregnancy. Maternal and fetal complications were higher in third and first trimester. Besides obstetric and pediatric consultation before surgery are necessary for optimal safety of the woman and the fetus.

Effect of left atrium volume on patients' prognosis following acute myocardial infarction

Evaluating left atrium volume is a good way to estimate prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients because it indicates to time and severity of diastolic dysfunction and longer-term results of acute myocardial infarction. The present study aims at evaluating the effect of left atrium volume on patients' prognosis following acute myocardial infarction. This is a cohort study conducted on 100 patients who were admitted with acute myocardial infarction. They were studied for 9 months and their one-month mortality rate was evaluated. The patients were studied considering demographic factors, risk factors, mechanical and arrhythmic complications and echocardiography indexes such as systolic and diastolic functions and left atrium volume. It was seen that mortality (27.3%, 6.22) in patients with atrium index > 32 mL m(-2) is more than cases with lower atrium index (1.3%, 1.78) (p = 0.001). There was not any meaningful difference in mortality rate of the patients considering age and gender (p > 0.05). This study indicated to lack of any meaningful difference in patients' mortality rate in terms of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and dyslipidemia. But, mortality rate was significantly higher in MI as a result of elevated-ST, diastolic dysfunction, restrictive pattern, ejection fraction of left atrium < 40%, left atrium volume index > 32 mL m(-2). High volume left atrium independently refers to bad prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction which is confirmed with outcome clinical predictors and common echocardiography indexes even following modification.

Thyroid cancer, clinical and hystopathological study on patients under 25 years in Tabriz, Iran (2000-2012)

Thyroid cancer comprises a broad spectrum of diseases with variable prognoses. The aim of this study was to assess thyroid cancer in young population using the surveillance, epidemiology and end results database and whether radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 influenced thyroid cancer incidence among children and adolescents in Tabriz, Iran. Patients aged 5-25 in Tabriz from April 2000 to April 2012 were studied. Using the surveillance and end results database, the study examined the overall incidence of thyroid cancer with variations based on tumor pathology, size and stage, as well as the current surgical therapy of thyroid carcinoma. This study demonstrated a positive correlation between thyroid carcinoma tumor size and stage of disease. Mortality rates were higher among men than women. Recurrence rates are also higher in men. Compared with women, men have greater likelihood ofloco regional lymph node involvement and more than twice the rate of distant metastases. Operative treatment for thyroid cancer also has shifted with Radical dissection+Total thyroidectomy replacing partial thyroidectomy as the most common surgical procedure. Our data indicate that the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer cannot be accounted for fully by an increased detection of small neoplasms. This study show the increasing in thyroid cancer incidence related to exposure to radiation from the Chernobyl accident.